Garden Days & Slowing Down

June 7, 2015

I’ve been a little quiet this week for no reason in particular, just sometimes I need to switch off a little. The laptop sits on the desk and I can’t quite bring myself to switch it on as I know I will get lost in an online world and I’d rather just have a little time in the here and now. My husband goes back to work tomorrow after a lovely two weeks off so this last week has been spent just pottering and doing a few little jobs. Lucas was back in pre-school so we couldn’t plan anything too far away and as the weather was nice we took to the garden.

Our garden is only small but it is a real labour of love; when we first moved in it was just dirt, we did nothing with it for nearly twelve months so you can imagine the state it was in. Out of the blue one of our neighbours offered us some turf, he was putting a patio in his garden and didn’t want it going to waste. This was the start of our outside space, an amazingly kind offer from a near stranger and we were so grateful. Since then my Nana helped us to get a shed, my mum bought the boys their little play house and we lifted a few planters from her house, their other Grandparents got the swing and have donated lots of lovely cuttings from their own garden and every year it grows and grows. We still have more to do, an outside table, the mandatory fairy lights, a few more plants and maybe a sandpit for the boys. There is a little space that we call the toddler garden that I would like to make a more bright and colourful and I am on the look out for some cute stepping stones. Each year we manage to do a little more and I love to see the changes.

So, this week we haven’t done much but we have really enjoyed our garden, we had a couple of gorgeous days when we could really make the most of it. It gets the sun for most of the day and it is relatively safe for me to let the boys explore (although I did find Bear eating soil today!). I often gaze out the window at it and smile and I feel so content when I see the boys out there. We don’t know much about plants and we are very much learning as we go but it is a lovely little outdoor space and I’m glad that it is ours.

You May Also Like

26 Comments

Oh how lovely. Sometimes it is too nice (weather-wise) to pick up the phone or laptop and just spend days outside. I agree. This week looks lovely and I am hoping to spend it outdoors with the twins too. In the garden, walking, at the park. Your boys look so happy out there 🙂 Jess x

Oh Hayley, this is just lovely. Since we started sorting out our garden, I love to watch the boys pottering around at there. I stand in the doorway watching them watering the plants. Something so simple but it really makes me smile. I’ve just signed off on my blog for a couple of weeks too. I want to spend the evenings reading and thinking and working on little projects so am going to step back for a little while.

It’s so good to recharge a little, not that I did anything particularly creative but it does give your brain chance to catch up. You do so mnay lovely projects Rachel, enjoy your break and we’ll look forward to seeing you back after your break xx

The twins are looking so grown up Hayley. I think slowing down is an excellent thing to do, sometimes it’s good to just switch off from this online world for a while. I love days in the garden, it’s our mission to get ours sorted this Summer as I really don’t like it! x

Ha, well it has taken us nearly three years to get it how it is, we are so not natural gardeners but it is lovely to have it nice for the children to play out! I love sitting back and watching them, and yes, they are growing up far too quickly! xx

It looks like you had a wonderful week just relaxing with the boys. Sometimes there’s nothing better than switching off the electronics and just enjoying the garden as a family, especially when we’re actually getting some brilliant sunshine! You’re working really hard on your garden but it really is looking lovely. Thanks for linking up with me on Country Kids.

Gorgeous photos. It is so nice when you have your own little piece of the outdoors to call your own, and your garden looks lovely and will invoke such wonderful memories in you and the kids. I think those days pootling around in the garden and “not really doing much” are some of the nicest.
Thank you for joining in with #SummerDays again!

Aww, such lovely photos! I’m getting really envious of all the posts filled with days in the garden, I can’t wait till ours in some shape that the kids can spend days out there. Thans for linking up with the #summerdays linky xxx

It has taken us a while to get it how we like it and there is always more to do but it is so nice to have a little outdoor space for the kids to get out in, I bet yours will be done in no time Katie! Get those kids stuck in too 🙂 xx

Aw what gorgeous photos!! I love the boys sitting exploring in the mud!! Fab!!
Having a garden really is bliss isn’t it? I think people take it for granted. I’ve lived in a 1st floor apartment for 11 years, meaning my son has never had a garden. This friday we’re moving into a house with an absolutely huge garden and we’re all so excited!! 🙂
#CountYourLuckyStars

I think living in the moment and stepping away from all the screens is necessary at times. How kind is your neighbour?? Can’t wait to have a little garden of our own this summer. Thanks for linking to #countluckystars lovely xxx

Your garden looks brilliant! I know what you mean about seeing it change year on year – we started with a patch of earth too and are now at the point where we need to consider chopping back a few of our trees. It is a defining moment though when the kids can help and potter around in the garden too – my twins love helping, although mainly watering things whether they require it or not! #countluckystars

Haha, mine are all about the digging up at the moment so we haven’t really planted too much this year 🙂 I will have to dig out a photo of what it looked like when we moved in, it feels like a little haven now!